Iowa Football: 3 takeaways from easy win over Rutgers in Week 2

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 7: Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette #6 of the Iowa Hawkeyes makes a catch the first half in front of defensive back Avery Young #2 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

2. Ihmir Smith-Marsette is emerging as the No. 1 receiver

Losing Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson from last year’s team had to hurt Nate Stanley’s confidence because, well, a good tight end is a quarterback’s best friend. Not to mention he had two that were first-round picks in the NFL draft.

That meant Stanley would have to develop some new go-to targets, but no one had emerged this offseason. That seems to have changed with Ihmir Smith-Marsette stepping up to lead the receiving corps after catching 23 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. There was hope that the junior would be the guy, but he had to prove that.

Through two games, Smith-Marsette has eight catches for over 150 yards and he’s coming off the best game of his young career, catching four for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yarder, against Rutgers. He’s not the biggest guy on the field, but he knows how to make plays in the passing game.

Stanley has to take a sigh of relief knowing that there’s someone stepping up as the go-to receiver for the Hawkeyes.

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